COUNTRY FOCUS: GHANA
Like many African countries, Ghana has grown rapidly
in recent years, with new buildings almost appearing
overnight. Birendra Sasmal, CEO of Subah, explains
how technology has been used to carry out the largest
mass household data collection and building mapping
exercise in African history.
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Putting Ghana
on the map:
Brick by brick
U
nderstanding and documenting
the new world is a huge challenge
for all types of organisations in
Ghana. The Government needs to provide
municipal services, including roads, schools
and medical facilities and wants to apply
property taxes to maximise its revenues.
After a comprehensive consultation with
the Government and other key stakeholders
in Ghana, Subah Geospatial – part of the
Subah Group – was set up in 2014 with the
specific goal of identifying and recording all
the streets, buildings, businesses and people
in urban Ghana.
“We found that we should have an
innovative solution in which we can
www.intelligentcio.com
“
OUR SOLUTION
IS VERY LIGHT
AND CAN WORK
WITH ANY KIND
OF SYSTEMS
USED BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
address each house in Ghana so that we
can give better services to people and the
Government and communities can benefit
from it,” said Sasmal.
“We are constantly looking for new ways to
help solve real problems found in Africa. This
project is a massive undertaking involving
the development of new platforms and a
huge time commitment.
“However, even before completion, the data
is being used to improve the working and
personal lives of Ghana’s citizens.”
The mapping and household data gathering
exercise – which is set to be completed by
INTELLIGENTCIO
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